what are the health benefits of taking probiotics

10 Benefits of Taking Probiotics

1. Optimizes Digestion. If you need a little digestive support, eating foods rich in probiotics (i.e., plain yogurt and miso) or taking probiotics in supplement form (i.e., L acidophilus) might ...
2. Improves Absorption. Do you want to get the most nutritional value from the foods you eat? ...
3. Safeguards Against Infection. ...
4. Strengthens Immunity. ...

More items...

Full Answer

What foods are high in probiotics?

Probiotic Food List

• Traditional buttermilk. Not to be confused with cultured buttermilk, which is common in the U.S. ...
• Apple cider vinegar. ACV is touted for its wealth of health benefits. ...
• Dark chocolate. Research suggests that cocoa can have a similar effect on gut bacteria as probiotics. ...
• Green peas. ...
• Herbal teas. ...
• Celery juice. ...
• Bottled probiotic drinks. ...
• Microalgae. ...

Does taking probiotics really work?

So do probiotics really work? There continues to be much research in this area – with many inconclusive studies for the treatment of variety conditions – but it is generally accepted that the right probiotic bacteria when administered in the sufficient quantities can help with improve the diversity, stability and overall health of the gut bacteria and our bodies.

When not to take probiotics?

Probiotics are not recommended for those with serious medical conditions, e.g. those who are severely immunosuppressed, have pancreatitis, are in the ICU, have melaena (dark blood in their stool), have a central venous catheter, infants with short bowel syndrome, or to patients with open wounds following major surgery; unless under a doctor's ...

How and when to take probiotics for maximum benefits?

• resist stomach acid and digestive enzymes, plus should not be absorbed in the GI tract
• be able to be fermented by intestinal microbes
• stimulate the growth or activity of intestinal bacteria to improve health

What are the positive effects of probiotics?

Probiotics promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria and have been linked to a wide range of health benefits. These include benefits for weight loss, digestive health, immune function and more ( 2 , 3 ). This is an overview of the key health benefits linked to probiotics.

Is it OK to take a probiotic every day?

A common question about probiotics is whether it is ok to take probiotic supplements every day. Whilst there may be a few exceptions to this rule, the general answer is yes, it's safe, and usually recommended, to take them daily. It's important to understand that probiotics are a natural supplement and not a medicine.

What are the signs you need probiotics?

The three most common signs that you need probiotics are if:You've taken antibiotics and need to balance out the bacteria in your system.You find that you're constantly getting sick.You feel bloated, unwell or have skin issues.

What are the disadvantages of taking probiotics?

The Bottom Line The most common side effects are a temporary increase in gas, bloating, constipation and thirst. Some people can also react poorly to ingredients used in probiotic supplements or to naturally occurring amines in probiotic foods. If this occurs, stop using probiotics.

Do probiotics make you poop?

Do They Make You Poop? Probiotics can, in fact, make you poop—especially if you're suffering from constipation caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It's important to understand that probiotics are not laxatives. Their purpose is not to stimulate your bowels.

Should I take probiotics in the morning or at night?

The ideal time to take probiotics is right before bed because "the gut is pretty inactive at night. If you think about it, you don't usually wake up in the middle of the night to poop,” says Patricia Raymond, MD, a board-certified doctor in both gastroenterology and internal medicine.

What are the symptoms of an unhealthy gut?

Here are 10 warning signs you may have an unhealthy gut.You have an upset stomach. ... You feel tired more often than not. ... You have trouble sleeping in general. ... You are intolerant to some foods. ... You have extreme food cravings, especially sugar. ... You have unintentional weight gain or loss. ... You have skin irritations.More items...•

Who should not take probiotics?

Some reports have linked probiotics to serious infections and other side effects. The people most likely to have trouble are those with immune system problems, people who've had surgery, and others who are critically ill. Don't take probiotics if you have any of those issues.

Do probiotics help you lose weight?

Probiotics may also fight obesity in other ways, including: Releasing appetite-regulating hormones: Probiotics may help release the appetite-reducing hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY). Increased levels of these hormones may help you burn calories and fat ( 19 , 20 ).

Do probiotics help with joint pain?

Probiotics and Your Arthritis If you have an inflammatory type of arthritis, probiotics may be especially important. The beneficial bacteria appear to have an impact on inflammation, reducing common biomarkers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP).

How long does it take for a probiotic to work?

2 to 3 weeksThe short answer: It takes most people 2 to 3 weeks to feel significant benefits when they start taking probiotics. That's because probiotics need time to accomplish their three key goals: increase your good bacteria count, decrease your bad bacteria count, and reduce inflammation.

What foods have a lot of probiotics?

The most common fermented foods that naturally contain probiotics, or have probiotics added to them, include yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles, miso, tempeh, kimchi, sourdough bread and some cheeses.

What are the benefits of probiotics?

These include benefits for weight loss, digestive health, immune function and more ( 2. Trusted Source. , 3. Trusted Source.

What is a probiotic?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed through fermented foods or supplements ( 1. Trusted Source. ). More and more studies show that the balance or imbalance of bacteria in your digestive system is linked to overall health and disease. Probiotics promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria and have been linked to a wide range ...

How long does probiotic yogurt help with cholesterol?

Trusted Source. ). A review of 5 studies found that eating a probiotic yogurt for 2–8 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 4% and LDL cholesterol by 5% ( 20. Trusted Source.

How long does diarrhea last with probiotics?

A large review of 35 studies found certain strains of probiotics can reduce the duration of infectious diarrhea by an average of 25 hours ( 11. Trusted Source. ). Probiotics reduced the risk of travelers’ diarrhea by 8%. They also lowered the risk of diarrhea from other causes by 57% in children and 26% in adults ( 12.

What does it mean when you have an imbalance in your gut?

). These benefits are thought to result from the ability of probiotics to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria ( 4. Trusted Source. ). An imbalance means there are too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria.

Do probiotics help with eczema?

Probiotics May Reduce the Severity of Certain Allergies and Eczema. Certain probiotic strains may reduce the severity of eczema in children and infants. One study found eczema symptoms improved for infants fed probiotic-supplemented milk, compared to infants fed milk without probiotics ( 23. Trusted Source.

Can you take probiotics in a pill?

You can also take probiotics as tablets, capsules and powders that contain the bacteria in dried form. However, be aware that some probiotics can be destroyed by stomach acid before they even reach the gut — meaning that you get none of the intended benefits.

What are the benefits of probiotics?

The reported beneficial effects of probiotic consumption include improvement of intestinal health, amelioration of symptoms of lactose intolerance, and reduction of the risk of various other diseases, and several well-characterized strains of Lactobacilliand Bifidobacteriaare available for human use [3, 4].

Where does the word "probiotic" come from?

Etymologically the term probiotic is derived from the Greek language meaning “for life” but the definition of probiotics has evolved over time simultaneously with the increasing interest in the use of viable bacterial supplements and in relation to the progress made in understanding their mechanisms of action.

Which bacteria are not considered probiotics?

Two other species playing an important role in the food industry, particularly dairy products, although not strictly considered as probiotics are Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactococcus lactis , two of the most commercially important lactic acid bacteria [11]. Table 1. Adapted from Holzapfel et al., 2001 [10].

Do prebiotics have a role in health promotion?

Although prebiotics seem to have a role in health promotion this needs to be supported by further studies. During the last years the concept of functional food has also been developed in order to describe foods containing ingredients with positive effects on host health beyond their nutritive value.

Do probiotics have viability?

Nevertheless, certain studies have demonstrated that viability is not necessary for all probiotic effects as not all mechanisms nor clinical benefits are directly related to viability and that even cell wall components on some probiotic bacteria or probiotic DNA may have significant health effects.

Do probiotics help with diarrhoea?

In fact, there is substantial evidence to support probiotic use in the treatment of acute diarrhoeal diseases, prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, and improvement of lactose metabolism, but there is insufficient evidence to recommend them for use in other clinical conditions. 8.

We take vitamins and minerals to safeguard our health. Should we also add a daily dose of bacteria?

Bacteria have a reputation for causing disease, so the idea of tossing down a few billion a day for your health might seem — literally and figuratively — hard to swallow. But a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that you can treat and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing certain kinds of live bacteria.

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What are the benefits of probiotics?

Probiotics help break down your food into the nutrients that you need to maintain health, and they create several vitamins directly, such as vitamin K2, folic acid, and biotin. Probiotics can help reduce the pain and severity of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. 2. Improves lactose tolerance.

Why are probiotics important?

The most frequently talked about benefit of probiotics is their ability to promote proper digestive health. Probiotics are often used in the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

How to get rid of lactose intolerance?

With more healthy bacteria in your gut, your body may produce more lactase, or at least aid in the digestion of lactose. Adding probiotics to your diet can change the balance of bacteria in your gut and decrease symptoms of lactose intolerance. 3. Boosts immunity and decreases inflammation.

How to help gut bacteria?

By adding probiotics to your diet, you can help rebuild diverse gut bacteria that is often killed following a course of antibiotics. Probiotic supplements and foods can also improve the effectiveness of antibiotics and help stop the bacteria in your body from becoming invulnerable.

Why do women insert probiotics into their vagina?

A recent Italian study showed that women who suffer from chronic yeast infections who insert a probiotic tablet into the vagina saw their frequency of yeast infections decrease by 87%. 7. May improve mental health. The gut is commonly referred to as the “second brain” because of the strong gut-brain connection.

What does probiotics do to your body?

3. Boosts immunity and decreases inflammation. Probiotics are still in the process of being studied, particularly regarding their role in immunity. But when they are used in conjunction with prebiotics, probiotics show a lot of promise in this area of health.

Why is the gut considered the second brain?

In fact, interactions between the gut and brain are thought to have an impact on several of the pathogenesis of mental disorders caused by inflammation, such as mood disorders, ADHD, MS, obesity, and autism spectrum disorder.

How good are probiotics?

How Probiotics Are Good for You. They might lower the number of "bad" bacteria in your gut that can cause illness or inflammation. They can also replace those problem germs with good or helpful bacteria. Researchers are studying when and how probiotics might best help.

What are probiotics used for?

Probiotics also are being studied for many other conditions. There isn’t as much research yet, but some people say that probiotics have helped them with: 1 Preventing and treating yeast infections 2 Preventing and treating urinary tract infections 3 Lactose intolerance 4 Skin conditions such as eczema 5 Treating certain stomach and respiratory infections, especially in children 6 Treating allergies and asthma 7 Decreasing inflammation, such as from rheumatoid arthritis

Can probiotics help with irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics can sometimes help e ase symptoms, including stomach pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. Probiotics also are being studied for many other conditions. There isn’t as much research yet, but some people say that probiotics have helped them with: Preventing and treating yeast infections.

Can probiotics cause stomach upset?

If you have an immune system problem or another serious health condition, you may have a greater chance of issues. Some reports have linked probiotics to serious infections and other side effects.

Do probiotics help with gut health?

But probiotics can help keep your gut healthy. Your body doesn't need probiotics.

Do probiotics work while pregnant?

If you're pregnant or nursing, you should also talk to your doctor before you try one. Most probiotics in the U.S. are sold as dietary supplements. That means the companies that make them don't have to test their products and show that they work or that they are safe.

Can you take probiotics if you have a serious infection?

The people most likely to have trouble are those with immune system problems, people who've had surgery, and others who are critically ill. Don't take probiotics if you have any of those issues.

What is your gut microbiome?

If you have unexplained stomach trouble, allergies, or fatigue, you might have problems with your gut microbiome. You have a delicate ecosystem of microorganisms in your gut that helps maintain wellness. If your microbiome is unbalanced, your health may suffer. Add probiotics to your diet to support gut health.

Probiotics for gut microbiome imbalances

You can also introduce beneficial microorganisms into your gut by eating probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms that live in some types of food or supplements. There is some evidence that adding them to your diet can improve your gut health.

Digestive issues

Improving the health of your gut microbiome can have a positive effect on digestive issues. Probiotics may ease constipation. In some studies, researchers found that taking probiotics improved bowel movement frequency and softened stools, so they were easier to pass.

Oral health

Research suggests probiotics may improve periodontal disease. Infections or inflammation in the mouth and gums can cause significant dental problems. In some studies, people who took probiotics in addition to other treatments had better recovery from gum disease. The probiotics may help reduce the number of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

Allergies

Adding a probiotic to your diet may help reduce the symptoms of allergies or eczema. There have been a few small studies that indicate probiotics can improve seasonal allergy symptoms and lessen the effects of eczema in adults.

Vaginal health

The vagina, like the gut, has a microbiome of bacteria. The microorganisms in the vaginal tract keep the delicate tissue healthy by protecting it from harmful bacteria. When the beneficial microorganisms are out of balance, you may be prone to yeast infections, urinary tract infections, or bacterial vaginosis.

Choosing a probiotic

There are many different strains of probiotics available in supplement form. The different strains have different health effects, so it's essential to understand which type of probiotic will best address your health concerns. Your doctor can help you decide which types of supplements might be helpful.